Coconut milk soap tips?

[vjbakke]

I found some coconut milk on sale at the store. I want to try a coconut milk recipe. Any tips? I have successfully made goats milk soap before with the split method. Should I freeze the coconut milk first?

 

[Bukawww]

I just add all of my milk at trace - it works so well when the freezer method is usually 80% fail for me lol.

 

[Maythorn]

I had trouble adding lye to coconut milk the time I tried. It was so much easier just to add it to the oils. Unless you want coconut cream for all the liquid.

 

[vjbakke]

Yeah I was thinking of using it for all of the liquid.

 

[Soaplady22]

Coconut milk and coconut cream are two different animals. One is a "milk" and does not need to be frozen, and the other is usually sweetened and quite thick. I use coconut cream as half the liquid - stick blending it into the oils. I haven't tried the milk yet - but don't see why you couldn't just add your lye to it and then soap as usual.

 

[IrishLass]

I like to use the split method with coconut milk, too.

IrishLass

 

[busymakinsoap!]

The main difference between coconut cream and coconut milk, is that the milk has more water in it - in the cans I have seen anyway.

So I guess it would be easier to add milk to lye mixture than cream.

I use the cream 50/50 adding at trace.

 

[dcornett]

I like to use the split method with coconut milk, too.

IrishLass

dido

 

[pure&simple]

I always freeze my milks for soap making. If they're frozen then I don't have to worry about it being burned or turning too yellow/brown, whatever. The milk always stay white when I freeze it ( in yogurt containers) completely.

 

[trishwosere]

I like to use the split method with coconut milk, too.

IrishLass

Is the milk added to the oils before the lye or after it please IrishLass?

 

[simplymcghie]

will coconut milk discolor your soap? I've never used it in soap before either. I'd like to make a nice white bar with coconut milk it that's possible.

 

[Soaplady22]

I think it can be added before OR after the lye solution. Lately I put it in before because I've left it out a couple of times and my soap was way water short!! Didn't hurt anything - but still!!

Coconut does not discolor soap. Go for it!!

 

[dieSpinne]

So far the salt bars I made with Coconut milk are a creamy off-white. I added no TD, so the color is native to the bar itself.

 

[Maythorn]

No, the coconut cream I got was not sweetened. It really seemed no different than the milk but it was called "cream" on the can's label. I buy one or the other and they work out the same in a soap recipe.

 

[vjbakke]

The coconut milk I got is in a can, it is the one from Thailand. The ingredients in it are coconut extract, water, citric acid and a preservative sodium metabisulfite.

When you shake it it sounds very thick. The nutrition facts on it say 50% saturated fat so I am thinking it's more like coconut cream. I will try it using the split method.

 

[dcornett]

I always add my coconut milk after the lye, at a light trace...but that's just how I've found it best for me when doing the split method. (which I always use when soaping with coconut milk, buttermilk, or goats milk)